PRINCIPLE OF MERITOCRACY

EDUSAVE AWARD SCHEME

I think the Edusave Awards are definitely a plus for students and all. It certainly goes along with the principle of Meritocracy, a system that rewards effort and hard work. The Edusave Award scheme too isnt biased towards or against students of any race or religion or of any status, as long as the reciever is a citizen of Singapore and qualify for the various awards, thus practising the principle of Fairness too.

There are a various kind of awards, directed to different batches of students. These awards are not directed to certain students only. Primary school students, Secondary school students, JC/Poly students, ITE students are all eligible for the awards as long as they excel in their studies or different areas and qualify for it. I believe these awards are able to encouarge the students to work hard as students will put efforts into their studies to attain the awards. The awards will definitely aid them in their furthering of studies in the future. It too serve as a great motivator for the students.

The system for rewarding talent will also further encouarge the students to excel in all areas of their life. Ten years down the road, Singapore will have a rising number of talents in the working society and Singapore's economy will definitely benefit from the overwhelming of talents. Students who has studied hard during their school days will nurture creativity and more innovative minds and will be able to put them to use during their working days. As our economy benefits, Singapore will prosper and standards of living will be raised.

The Edusave Scholarship and Bursary Award can help the family of the recievers. Take for instance, the reciever of the award may come from a family that is not too well off. The money recieved can be used for expenses for the family. Thus, the scheme not only benefits the students only, but benefit the family of the reciever also.

Below are the various Edusave Awards that are implemented.

(a) Edusave Scholarships

For Primary 5 or 6 pupils.
If your child is studying in primary 5 or 6 in a government or a government-aided school, he is eligible for the Edusave Scholarship for Primary Schools if he is amongst the top 10% of pupils of his level and stream. Your child will be selected by his school for this scholarship based on his year-end school examination results. The award is $300 for pupils in the top 5 per cent and $250 for the next 5 per cent.

For secondary school pupils in Government or government-aided schools.
If your child is studying in a government or a government-aided secondary school, and is among the top 10% of students of his level and stream in his school, he is eligible for an Edusave Scholarship for Secondary Schools. Your child will be selected by his school for this scholarship based on his year-end school examination results. Pupils in the top 5% at each level are awarded $500 each while those in the next 5% receive $300 each.

For secondary school pupils in Independent Schools.
The Edusave Entrance Scholarships for Independent Schools (EESIS) are awarded to the top one-third of the total number of Secondary One pupils posted to all independent schools, based on their PSLE results. Singaporean pupils with outstanding performance in the PSLE will be invited to apply for the EESIS. These pupils will be offered the award if they are posted to an independent school.

For secondary pupils in Integrated Programme Schools.
The Edusave Scholarships for Integrated Programme Schools (ESIP) are offered in schools offering the Integrated Programme (IP) that (i) are independent schools or (ii) charge additional miscellaneous fees known as “Integrated Programme Miscellaneous Fees" (government/government-aided schools). Singaporean pupils in the IP at Secondary 3 who are not EESIS holders will be invited to apply for the ESIP. These pupils will sit for the Integrated Programme Scholarship Test to determine their suitability for the scholarship.For ESIP scholars in independent schools, the scholarship covers the annual school fees charged by the integrated programme school less the annual amount of school and standard miscellaneous fees paid by pupils in government/government-aided secondary schools. For ESIP in govt/govt-aided schools, the scholarships will cover the annual amount of Integrated Programme Miscellaneous Fees charged by the school. The tenure of the scholarship will be up to the final year of the IP. The scholar must make good progress each year in order to continue receiving the scholarship.


(b) Edusave Merit Bursary (EMB)

For pupils whose household income is less than $4,000 per monthIf your child is studying in either a primary or secondary school, or in a JC/CI or ITE, and is not a recipient of any Edusave Scholarship stated above, he can apply for the Edusave Merit Bursary if he is within the top 25% of each level and stream in his school, and if your gross monthly household income is below $4,000.

The value of this award for each level is as follows:
$150 for Primary 1 to 3
$200 for Primary 4 to 6
$250 for Secondary 1 to 5
$300 for Junior Colleges/Centralise Institute (JCs/CI)
$400 for Institute of Technical Education (ITE)


(c) Good Progress Award (GPA)

If your child does not qualify for the Edusave scholarship or merit bursary, but has made significant improvement in his academic performance, he is eligible for the Good Progress Award. The award is given based on the extent of his improvement in his school’s year-end examinations over the previous year.

The awards are given to a maximum of 10% of pupils in each level and stream in every school. Pupils in Primary 1 are excluded from the scheme as there is no basis for comparison. Your child will be selected by his school for this award at the end of the year if he meets the criteria.

The value of the awards are as follows:
$50 for Primary 2 to 3
$100 for Primary 4 to 6
$150 for Secondary
$200 for JCs/CI
$300 for ITE


(d) Edusave Awards for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service (EAGLES)

For pupils who have leadership qualities, service to community and schools, and excellence in non-academic activities. The award is given based on his achievement in co-curricular activities and contribution to community services over a one-year period.The awards are given to a maximum of 5% of pupils in each level and stream in every school, from primary 4 upwards.

Your child will be selected by his school for this award at the end of the year if he meets the criteria. Pupils in primary schools, secondary schools, JCs/CI and ITE who are recipients of Edusave scholarships or bursaries or good progress awards will still be eligible for this award.

The value of the awards is as follows:
$120 for Primary 4 to 6
$150 for Secondary, JC/CIs and ITE

Overall, the Edusave Award scheme is definitely beneficial to Singapore and its people.